Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and state Rep. Francesca Hong spent the weekend campaigning together just days after a razor-thin Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, signaling a desperate push for party unity ahead of the November election.
Crowley narrowly defeated Hong by less than half a percentage point (roughly 3,000 votes) in an upset that defied late polls showing the Madison socialist with a double-digit lead. Crowley, aDemocrat and the first Black Milwaukee County executive, will now face Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is backed by President Donald Trump, in the general election. Hong, a democratic socialist and the first Asian American in the Wisconsin Legislature, had emerged as the progressive frontrunner.
Hong conceded the next day and endorsed Crowley without hesitation.
“Congratulations to David Crowley and his team. I fully support him and look forward to working with him to defeat Congressman Tiffany in November,” she posted. “This campaign was not about getting one person into office. It is about building a movement for permanent affordability and a government that puts working people first.”
Crowley returned the praise.
“I especially want to thank Representative Francesca Hong,” he said. “Her campaign reminded people across Wisconsin that there are no long shots when it comes to believing in a better future… I look forward to earning their support as we move forward together.” He stressed that the real opponent has always been Tiffany, not fellow Democrats.
The two appeared together quickly. The morning after the primary, Hong joined Crowley and other Democratic leaders at a unity breakfast in Middleton that kicked off Crowley’s “unity tour.” Days later, she spoke at a Crowley rally at Madison’s Majestic Theatre (her first major public appearance since election night) urging supporters to keep organizing for the full Democratic ticket.
The partnership aims to convert Hong’s more than 300,000 far-left primary voters into general-election support in a closely divided swing state. Crowley has acknowledged they “don’t agree on everything” but must build a broad coalition or else risk losing badly to Tiffany.
With just 11 weeks until Election Day, the joint appearances mark an early test of whether Wisconsin Democrats can quickly close ranks after a bitter primary and present a united front against Tiffany and a strongly united GOP.
